September 7, 2018 1:52 PM EDT
There is a fight over power plant costs that could threaten grid reliability, and it’s not as simple as the fight you have been hearing. This wraps together three issues, each of which could cost billions of dollars. By throwing them together, policymakers are jeopardizing the electric grid reliability they say they are trying to protect. Read more >
July 20, 2018 9:43 AM EDT
More indications that there is no national reason for a proposed financial rescue of coal plants came out this week. Power grid operator PJM says there is no emergency; a leading coal industry representative says we don’t have any measure or understanding of what is gained in terms of reliability; and financial estimates are reported at $17 – 35 billion per year.
June 25, 2018 3:25 PM EDT
It’s not an issue of technology. Read more >
June 1, 2018 4:31 PM EDT
Changing technology, from low cost wind and solar, to pollution control added to coal plants, to fracking for natural gas, has created a new debate about where we should get our electricity. The debate has reached new levels with an order today from the White House to protect coal and nuclear plants from competition, even where the plants voluntarily agreed to participate in competitive markets.
This isn’t the first time the debate over grid reliability has included the Department of Defense (DOD), and despite what the White House says, the regional grid operators are still maintaining reliability.
May 11, 2018 4:21 PM EDT
This is the first time people can recall when one of the grid operators was singled out by the others for making inappropriate demands on the industry. Read more >
